26 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
The Climate of the South Sea Islands is in 
general regular, and, though considerably hotter 
than in Europe, is more temperate than that of the 
East or West Indies, or those parts of the con¬ 
tinent of America that are situated in the same 
latitude. This is probably occasioned by the vast 
expanse of ocean around; for though only 17 
degrees from the equator, the thermometer, in the 
shade, seldom rises higher than 90, while the 
general average in some of the islands is not more 
than 74. During the time the Duff remained in 
Tahiti, from March to August, 1797, the thermo¬ 
meter was never lower than 65, and seldom higher 
than 73; and between the months of April and 
August, 1819, it ranged in the morning from 68 
to 78, at noon from 75 to 84, and in the evening 
from 70 to 78. Sometimes it rises for a short time 
much higher than 90, but I never saw it so low as 
60. The heat is constant, and, to an European, 
debilitating, though much less so than that of an 
Indian climate. To the natives it is genial, and, 
excepting in the immediate neighbourhood of their 
stagnant waters or marshy ground, is salubrious. 
They experience no inconvenience from the heat, 
and often, when the mornings have been gratefully 
cool to a European, they wrap themselves in their 
warmest clothing. 
The climate is remarkably serene and equable ; 
its changes are neither violent, frequent, nor 
sudden. This circumstance, were it not for the 
constant heat, would render it remarkably salu¬ 
brious. The atmosphere is moist, and the agree¬ 
able alternations of land and sea breezes are ex¬ 
perienced during the greater part of the year. 
The refreshing land breeze sweeps down the 
valleys soon after sunset, but, though grateful to 
